North Cape Calling

Lyrics

1
February, North Cape calling me,
Mercury falling and our hearts are full of fear;
Layers of ice on our lower decks,
We’ll trim the hatches down, boys, as the wall of sea draws near.

Chorus
‘It’s too late to turn around,’ our skipper says,
‘There’s a hold half empty here besides,
There’s plenty more good fishing to be done, me lads,
We’ll ride the storm till morning then decide.’

2
February, North Cape calling me,
We’ve lost our mast and cut the engines too,
We’ve dragged the first hand back into the hold, me lads,
Frostbite has his fingers but I’m sure that he’ll pull through.

3
February, North Cape calling me,
We’ve never prayed so hard in all our lives;
Good Lord if this is judgment then I’ll promise you,
I’ll give up drink and women if you’ll just let me survive.

4
February, North Cape calling me,
Mercury rising and a calmer sea prevails.
‘Lower your nets,’ we hear the skipper cry,
‘The sooner we get done here then the sooner we set sail.’

This is a contemporary song about Yorkshire.

Provenance

This song was written by Linda Kelly.
It is sung here by Mike Bennett, Val Illingworth and Hissyfit (Linda Kelly and Hazel Richings).

‘The North Cape’ referred to in this song is the North Cape of Norway. It could be treacherous because of storms and then there was the ice, a trawlerman’s worst enemy. The determination of some skippers to fish in all weathers often led to tragedy –those who had their factory doors open in a gale risked capsize or the build up of ice made the ship top heavy. Speculation remains over the fate of the Gaul lost off the North Cape, as to whether this or some other tragedy befell her.’